MISSISSAUGA, Ontario - DuPont Pioneer and Hill & Hill Farms Limited (Hill and Hill), a retailer of agricultural seed and a division of Varna Grain Ltd., have entered into a confidential settlement regarding a lawsuit for unlawful selling activity that was filed by DuPont Pioneer. (Court File No. 98-14, proceedings commenced at Goderich, Ontario.)
As part of the settlement, Hill & Hill acknowledges that it engaged in unlawfully selling DuPont Pioneer's protected wheat variety under the Canadian Plant Breeders' Rights Act. In particular, Hill & Hill was found to have been propagating, marketing, selling and passing-off Pioneer® variety 25R40 wheat seed as its own. Hill & Hill admitted to falsely identifying the seed under another variety name, in breach of DuPont Pioneer's plant breeder rights.
As a leading developer of wheat varieties, DuPont Pioneer makes significant investments to continuously improve its seeds so that Canadian farmers can increase the size and quality of their crops and operate more productively. To support this effort, DuPont Pioneer acts to defend its intellectual property rights across its product portfolio. It also actively protects its investments to ensure the integrity of its products and maintain fairness in the marketplace.
As a result of this settlement, Hill & Hill has agreed to cease all unlawful activities regarding DuPont Pioneer technology.
DuPont Pioneer is the world's leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Science with Service Delivering Success®.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders, we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment.
Source: DuPont